TVH Stopped Colace at 4 weeks post op, now dealing with constipation!

I stopped taking Colace at 4 weeks post op, and I am now dealing with constipation. Ugh. Never had a problem with it post op.. I took 2 Colace again yesterday and this morning, but nothing yet. It's been 3 days now without a bowel movement.

My Dr had told me right after surgery to not strain while having my first bowel movement. When is straining no longer an issue?

Thought I was done taking about poop!

There are many OTC laxatives you could use to get things going that aren't harmful. I did this about this far out as well but when I did end up going it was soft so not true constipation, just slow bowels. They'll wake back up fully in no time! It's ok to help them along when you can.

I found that a a dose of miralax powder mixed with a small amount of apple juice before bed works wonders. This has been so much better for me than the colace and it has no side effects at all other than it gets things moving. I also take a Probiotic supplement daily and that seems to help as well. I am only 4 days post op at this point, but I know how uncomfortable constipation can be. Good luck!

I used a stool softener every morning for months then moved to prune juice. It took months for my bowels to get back right. Even now, salad and fruit are friends of mine. Best of luck.

Thanks ladies! I picked up some Miralax today, so hopefully it will do the trick I've been feeling really well, bummed to deal with this. Can't wait until I feel like my normal self!

Try Cherry Milk of Magnesia...if you're still taking the pain meds (vicodin, oxycodone, etc) they will constipate you. I only took the colace for a week after and then started using the MoM. I learned that diet and water intake have a lot to do w/ your ability to prevent constipation as well. I added Activia Greek yogurt to my diet and that helped immensely as well.

Well all seems to be well. I've taken the Miralax twice. I started back to work last Thursday at 4 weeks. I'm thinking with that, stopping the Colace and not watching what I'm eating and drinking have compounded the constipation issue. I need to get back to eating more fruits and drinking more water.